Voice recognition system and recognition result display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A voice recognition system, when deciding that a user is about to select a voice recognition result displayed on a screen while the system continuously recognizes a voice uttered, stops a display update of the recognition result on the display unit, thereby being able to prevent the recognition result from disappearing or from changing to other recognition result at the moment when the user is about to select the recognition result. This makes it possible to prevent a user from carrying out an unwanted operation, and to improve the convenience of the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a voice recognition system thatrecognizes a voice uttered by a user and displays a recognition result,a recognition result display apparatus that displays a recognitionresult of a voice, and a display method that causes a display device todisplay the recognition result.

BACKGROUND ART

As a voice recognition method, a method is known which recognizes avoice uttered by a user and displays a recognition result.

For example, a Patent Document 1 describes a voice recognition systemthat recognizes a voice uttered by a user and displays a recognitionresult. When the user utters a voice, it displays a shortcut buttonrepresenting the recognition result of the voice near the lower leftcorner on a screen, and executes a shortcut function in response to thepush of the shortcut button by the user.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-14818.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, the conventional voice recognition system disclosed in thePatent Document 1, for example, has the following problem. When a usergives a new utterance during display of a shortcut button, it can erasethe previous shortcut button displayed to display the new recognitionresult. Accordingly, at the moment when the user is about to select thedesired recognition result, the button moves or disappears, and ischanged to a button corresponding to other recognition result, resultingin an operation the user does not want.

The present invention is implemented to solve the foregoing problem.Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a voicerecognition system capable of enabling a user to select a desiredrecognition result, and to provide a recognition result displayapparatus and a display method causing a display device to display therecognition result without updating the recognition result when the useris about to select the recognition result displayed on the screen.

Means for Solving the Problems

To accomplish the foregoing object, the present invention comprises, ina voice recognition system that recognizes a voice uttered by a user anddisplays a recognition result, a voice acquirer that detects andacquires the voice uttered by the user; a voice recognition unit thatrecognizes voice data acquired by the voice acquirer by referring to avoice recognition dictionary and outputs a recognition resultcontinuously while the voice recognition system is in operation; anoperating button generator that generates an operating button with afunction corresponding to the recognition result output by the voicerecognition unit; a display that displays the operating button generatedby the operating button generator; a display controller that controlsdisplay contents of the operating button on the display; and anoperating button display update stop/restart unit that outputs aninstruction signal that instructs the display controller to stop andrestart an update of the display contents of the operating buttondepending on whether the user is about to touch the operating buttondisplayed on the display or not, wherein the operating button displayupdate stop/restart unit outputs an instruction signal for stopping theupdate of the display contents of the operating button when decidingthat the user is about to touch the operating button displayed on thedisplay; and the display controller instructs the display to stop adisplay update of the operating button displayed on the display whenreceiving the instruction signal for stopping the update of the displaycontents of the operating button from the operating button displayupdate stop/restart unit.

Advantages of the Invention

According to the present invention, the voice recognition systemprevents the display unit from carrying out the display update of therecognition result when it decides that the user is about to select therecognition result displayed on the screen. Accordingly, it can preventthe recognition result from disappearing or being changed to otherrecognition result at the moment when the user is about to select therecognition result, and can prevent the occurrence of the operation auser does not want, thereby being able to improve the convenience of theuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a voice recognitionsystem of an embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a screen example on which operating buttonsare displayed in an operating button display area of a display unit;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display update method of an operatingbutton when the operating button display area can display only oneoperating button;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display update method of an operatingbutton when the operating button display area can display two operatingbuttons;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of generating and displaying anoperating button when the operating button display area can display onlyone operating button;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of generating and displaying anoperating button when the operating button display area can display aplurality of operating buttons;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing of erasing an operating buttonwhich has already been displayed even when an operating button is notgenerated;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing when an operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit outputs an instruction for a displayupdate stop/restart of an operating button;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a voice recognitionsystem of an embodiment 2;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing when the operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit outputs the instruction for the displayupdate stop/restart of an operating button according to voicerecognition;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a screen example when displaying anoperating button erased from the operating button display area byscrolling;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen example of a list of operatingbuttons stored as a display history when the display update is stopped;and

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of a navigation system of anembodiment 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The best mode for carrying out the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to a voice recognition system thatrecognizes a voice uttered by a user. As long as the voice recognitionsystem is in operation, it continuously recognizes a voice.Incidentally, in the following embodiments, although an example will bedescribed which applies the voice recognition system in accordance withthe present invention to a navigation system mounted in a moving bodysuch as a vehicle, it is also applicable to a navigation system for amoving body other than a vehicle, and can be applied to a server of anavigation system. In addition, it is also applicable to applications ofa navigation system installed in a mobile data terminal such as asmartphone, tablet PC, and mobile phone.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a voice recognitionsystem of an embodiment 1 in accordance with the present invention. Thevoice recognition system comprises a controller 1, a microphone 2, avoice acquiring unit 3, a voice recognition dictionary 4, a voicerecognition unit 5, an operating button generating unit 6, a displaycontroller 7, a display unit 8, an operating button display updatestop/restart unit 9, an instruction input unit 10, a camera 11, aline-of-sight detector 12, and a posture detector 13.

The microphone 2 acquires (collects) a voice uttered by a user. As themicrophone 2, for example, there is an omnidirectional (ornondirectional) microphone, an array microphone which consists of anarray of a plurality of omnidirectional (or nondirectional) microphonesto make it possible to control its directivity, and a unidirectionalmicrophone which has directivity in one direction and cannot control itsdirectivity.

The voice acquiring unit 3 captures a user utterance acquired with themicrophone 2, that is, the input voice, and carries out A/D(Analog/Digital) conversion using PCM (Pulse Code Modulation), forexample.

The voice recognition unit 5 detects a voice active sectioncorresponding to the contents of the utterance of the user from thevoice signal digitized by the voice acquiring unit 3, extracts featuresof the voice data in the voice active section, and executes recognitionprocessing based on the features using the voice recognition dictionary4, thereby outputting a recognition result. Incidentally, as for therecognition processing, a general method such as an HMM (Hidden MarkovModel) can be used.

By the way, as for the voice recognition function in a car navigationsystem or the like, it is common for a user to specify (instruct) astart of the utterance for the system. Therefore, a button (referred toas a “voice recognition start instruction unit” from now on) forinstructing a voice recognition start is displayed on the touch screenor is provided on the steering wheel. Then, after the user pushes downthe voice recognition start instruction unit, the system startsrecognizing the voice uttered. More specifically, the voice recognitionstart instruction unit outputs a voice recognition start signal, andafter receiving the signal, the voice recognition unit detects the voiceactive section corresponding to the user utterance from the voice dataacquired by the voice acquiring unit, and executes the recognitionprocessing described above.

The voice recognition unit 5 of the present embodiment 1, however,continues to recognize the contents of the user utterance even if thevoice recognition start instruction is not given by the user. Morespecifically, even if the voice recognition unit 5 does not receive thevoice recognition start signal, the voice recognition unit 5 continues,as long as the navigation system incorporating the voice recognitionsystem is in operation, to repeatedly execute the processing thatdetects the voice active section corresponding to the contents the userutters from the voice data acquired by the voice acquiring unit 3,extracts the features of the voice data in the voice active section,executes the recognition processing based on the features using thevoice recognition dictionary 4, and outputs a voice recognition result.This is the same in the following embodiments.

The instruction input unit 10 is a component for receiving aninstruction manually input by a user, that is, for acceptinginstructions of various operations by a user. As the instruction, thereis an instruction from a hardware switch provided on the navigationsystem, from a touch switch (including an operating button which will bedescribed later) set and displayed on the display unit 8, from a remotecontrol provided on the steering wheel or the like, or from arecognition apparatus that recognizes an instruction by a separateremote control.

The operating button generating unit 6 generates an operating buttonwith a function corresponding to the recognition result output from thevoice recognition unit 5.

The display controller 7 controls the display update of the operatingbutton by outputting an instruction such as for displaying the operatingbutton generated by the operating button generating unit 6 on thedisplay unit 8, altering the display position of the operating button,and deleting the operating button that has been displayed for aprescribed time period; and decides whether the display update of theoperating button on the display unit 8 is stopped or not. In addition,it manages the information about an operating button displayed on thedisplay unit 8 such as an operating button name and the display positionof an operating button on the display unit 8.

The display unit 8 is an integrated display type touch screen whichcomprises an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a touch sensor, forexample, and carries out drawing on the screen in response to aninstruction of the display controller 7. Incidentally, as the touchscreen, it is possible to use any one of the pressure-sensitive type,electromagnetic induction type, capacitance type, and combination ofthem. In addition, the LCD can be replaced by an organicelectroluminescence display.

The controller 1 controls the operations of the whole voice recognitionsystem. In addition, it executes various functions in response to theinstructions from a user input via the instruction input unit 10 or tothe recognition result output from the voice recognition unit 5. Forexample, when a user selects the operating button (recognition result)displayed on the display unit 8 manually or by a voice, it executes thefunction assigned to the operating button selected.

In the following description, it is assumed that the voice recognitionunit 5 continuously recognizes a genre name (referred to as a facilitygenre name from now on) to which facilities belong such as a “gasstation” and “convenience store” from a user utterance, and outputs arecognition result, and that the operating button generating unit 6generates an operating button with a function of retrieving facilitiesbelonging to the recognition result (referred to as “genre retrievalfunction” from now on).

The operating button is displayed in a prescribed area of the displayunit 8 (referred to as an “operating button display area” from now on)by the display controller 7 such as operating buttons 61 and 62 in FIG.2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the screen which displays theoperating buttons 61 and 62 in an operating button display area 60 ofthe screen (display unit 8) displaying a map and the like. If the userselects the operating button 61 or 62, the controller 1 executes thegenre retrieval corresponding to the operating button selected.Incidentally, it is assumed that the voice recognition unit 5 executesfacility genre name recognition using keyword spotting which is awell-known technique.

Incidentally, instead of the facility genre name recognition using thekeyword spotting, a method can also be used which carries out all therecognition by the large vocabulary continuous speech recognition, andextracts facility genre names by morphological analysis of therecognition result.

In addition, the voice recognition unit 5 can recognize an artist name,album name, title of a piece and a command for operating the carnavigation system, for example. In this case, as for the functionassigned to the operating button, it can be a function of retrieving apiece by an artist name, album name or title of the piece, or a functioncorresponding to the command, for example.

Here, an example of a display update method of an operating button onthe display unit 8 by the display controller 7 will be described byproviding an concrete instance.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display update method of an operatingbutton when the operating button display area 60 is small and candisplay only one operating button.

FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which no operating button is displayed in theoperating button display area 60. If an utterance “I want to go to aconvenience store” is recognized in this state, for example, anoperating button corresponding to the “convenience store” is generated,and the display controller 7 outputs an instruction to the display unit8 to display the operating button 61 (FIG. 3(b)).

After that, if an utterance “I must drop in at a bank” is recognized,and when an operating button corresponding to the “bank” is generated,the display controller 7 outputs to the display unit 8 the instructionto erase the “convenience store” operating button 61 and to display the“bank” operating button 62 (FIG. 3(c)). In addition, either a newoperating button is generated or not, the display controller 7 outputsthe instruction to erase the operating button which has been displayedfor a prescribed time period from a display start without any operationfor the operating button displayed.

In addition, as another display update method, a case will be describedin which the operating button display area 60 can display a plurality ofoperating buttons (two operating buttons are assumed in the descriptionwith reference to FIG. 4).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display update method of the operatingbuttons, in which the operating button display area 60 can display twooperating buttons.

If an utterance “I want to go to a convenience store” is recognized asin the previous example in a state where no operating button isdisplayed (FIG. 4(a)), and the operating button corresponding to the“convenience store” is generated, the display controller 7 outputs aninstruction to display the operating button 61 to the display unit 8(FIG. 4(b)).

After that, if an utterance “I must drop in at a bank” is recognized,and an operating button corresponding to the “bank” is generated, thedisplay controller 7 outputs an instruction to display the operatingbutton 62 to the display unit 8 (FIG. 4(c)). Furthermore, if anutterance “Is there any parking lot nearby?” is recognized, an operatingbutton corresponding to the “parking lot” is generated, and the displaycontroller 7 deletes the operating button that has been displayed forthe longest time, that is, the “convenience store” operating button 61here, shifts the “bank” operating button 62 to the place the“convenience store” operating button 61 has been displayed, and outputsthe instruction to the display unit 8 to additionally displays the“parking lot” operating button 63 (FIG. 4(d)).

In addition, even if a new operating button is not generated, thedisplay controller 7 outputs an instruction to erase the operatingbutton which has been displayed for a prescribed time period from thedisplay start without any operation to the operating button displayed.FIG. 4(e) shows a state in which when the prescribed time period haselapsed from the display of the “bank” operating button 62 without anyoperation to the “bank” operating button 62, the “bank” operating button62 is deleted, and the “parking lot” operating button 63 is shifted tothe place where the “bank” operating button 62 has been displayed.

Incidentally, it goes without saying that the foregoing display updatemethod is only an example, and other display update methods arepossible.

For example, when an operating button is displayed in the operatingbutton display area 60 in FIG. 4, although a first operating button isdisplayed at the bottom of the operating button display area 60, it canbe displayed from the top.

In addition, until the number of operating buttons exceeds the maximumnumber to be displayed, that is, when a second operating button isdisplayed after the first operating button has been displayed in FIG. 4,although the location of the first operating button 61 is maintained andthe second operating button 62 is displayed additionally at the top asshown in FIG. 4(c), a configuration is also possible in which a newoperating button is always displayed at the bottom. In this case, whenshifting from FIG. 4(b) to FIG. 4(c), the first “convenience store”operating button 61 is shifted upward, and the second “bank” operatingbutton 62 is displayed at the bottom newly.

Here, a method will be described of deciding whether a state is kept ornot without any operation to the operating button displayed, that is,whether a user is about to push an operating button or not. The decisionis made by the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9.

As a method of deciding whether a user is about to push an operatingbutton or not, a variety of methods are conceivable. However, it isassumed here that one of the following methods is used: a method ofdeciding by detecting a line of sight of a user with the line-of-sightdetector 12; a method of deciding by detecting a prescribed posture of auser by using the posture detector 13; and a method of deciding by thata user performs a prescribed operation using the instruction input unit10.

The line-of-sight detector 12 detects the line of sight of the userdirected to the display unit 8 by analyzing an image taken with thecamera 11. Here, the line-of-sight detector 12 can detect the line ofsight directed to a particular area on the display unit 8 such as theoperating button display area 60 in the examples of the screen shown inFIG. 2-FIG. 4. Incidentally, as for the method of detecting the line ofsight, since a publicly known technique can be used, its descriptionwill be omitted here.

The posture detector 13 detects a prescribed posture of the user who isabout to push the operating button displayed on the display unit 8 byanalyzing an image taken with the camera 11. Here, the prescribedposture in which the user is about to push the operating button includessuch postures as an arm of the user is directed to the display unit 8,the upper half of the user's body is directed to the display unit 8, andthe body of the user bends forward. Incidentally, as for a method ofdetecting the posture, since a publicly known technique is applicable,its description will be omitted here.

Then, when deciding that the prescribed condition is satisfied, that is,when the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 decidesthat the user is about to push the operating button by deciding whetherthe user is about to push the operating button or not from a detectionresult of the line-of-sight detector 12, posture detector 13, orinstruction input unit 10, it outputs an instruction to stop the displayupdate of the operating button to the display controller 7.

Here, if it decides that the prescribed condition is satisfied, that is,if it decides that the user is about to push the operating button, andmore specifically, if the line-of-sight detector 12 detects the line ofsight of the user to the display unit 8, or the posture detector 13detects the prescribed posture in which the user is about to push theoperating button, or the instruction input unit 10 receives theprescribed operation which indicates that the user is about to push theoperating button, the operating button display update stop/restart unit9 outputs to the display controller 7 an instruction signal for stoppingan update of the display contents of the operating button.

The case where the instruction input unit 10 carries out the prescribedoperation refers to the following cases, for example: where a prescribedbutton of a remote control or a steering switch (such as a display stopbutton or switch) is pushed down; and where when a touch sensor is atype such as a proximity sensor of a capacitance type, which can detecta finger of the user or approach of other object, an object such as afinger of the user approaches the touch sensor within a distance notgreater than a prescribed value.

In addition, in the case of a touch sensor (when comprising a proximitysensor), a configuration is also possible in which the operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit 9 acquires approaching information ofan object from the touch sensor, calculates the distance between theobject such as a finger of the user and the touch sensor (proximitysensor), and outputs the instruction to stop the display update when thedistance calculated is not greater than the prescribed value (or lessthan the prescribed value).

Here, a configuration is also possible which acquires information aboutthe position on the touch screen of the object approaching the touchscreen from the touch sensor, and outputs the instruction to stop thedisplay update when the position is within the operating button displayarea 60 of FIG. 2, for example, and when the distance between the objectand touch screen is not greater than the prescribed value (or less thanthe prescribed value).

Incidentally, although the information from the touch sensor is used todetect the approach of an object here, a configuration is also possiblewhich comprises an infrared sensor, for example, and calculates thedistance from the display unit 8 to the object with the sensor.

Furthermore, when not deciding that the prescribed condition issatisfied (that is, not deciding that the user is about to push anoperating button), the operating button display update stop/restart unit9 outputs an instruction to restart the display update of the operatingbutton to the display controller 7.

The case where the prescribed condition is not satisfied here refers toone of the following cases concretely: when the line-of-sight detector12 is unable to detect the line of sight of the user toward the displayunit 8; when the posture detector 13 is unable to detect the prescribedposture in which the user is about to push the operating button; whenthe instruction input unit 10 is controlled by the user to perform aprescribed operation such as pushing a prescribed button of a remotecontrol or steering switch (display restart button or switch); and whenthe distance between the object like a finger of the user and the touchscreen becomes greater than the prescribed value (or not less than theprescribed value).

More specifically, when it decides that the prescribed condition is notsatisfied (that the user is not pushing the operating button), theoperating button display update stop/restart unit 9 outputs aninstruction to restart the display update of the operating button to thedisplay controller 7.

In addition, a configuration is also possible which outputs aninstruction to restart the display update when the prescribed timeperiod has elapsed from the time when the instruction was output to stopthe display update of the operating button to the display controller 7without any operation to the operating button.

Furthermore, the prescribed time period can be altered in accordancewith a running state of the moving body in which the voice recognitionsystem is mounted, such as a running speed or a road along which thevehicle is running.

For example, when the running speed of the moving body is high or theroad conditions in which the vehicle is running are bad, the user has toconcentrate on driving. Thus, considering that the user sometimes cannotoperate the operating button, the prescribed time period is set longer.On the contrary, when the running speed of the moving body is low or theroad conditions in which the vehicle is running are good, the prescribedtime period is set shorter considering that the user is in a state ofbeing able to operate the operating button rather easily.

Next, referring to flowcharts shown in FIG. 5-FIG. 8, the processing ofthe voice recognition system of the embodiment 1 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of generating anddisplaying an operating button when the operating button display areacan display only one operating button as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

First, the voice acquiring unit 3 captures a user utterance collectedwith the microphone 2, that is, the input voice, and carries out A/Dconversion by PCM, for example (step ST01).

Next, the voice recognition unit 5 detects the voice active sectioncorresponding to the contents the user utters from the voice signaldigitized by the voice acquiring unit 3, extracts the feature of thevoice data from the voice active section, executes the recognitionprocessing by referring to the voice recognition dictionary 4 inaccordance with the feature, and outputs the recognition result (stepST02).

Then, the operating button generating unit 6 generates the operatingbutton with a function corresponding to the recognition result outputfrom the voice recognition unit 5 (step ST03).

After that, the display controller 7 decides whether the display unit 8has any operating button already displayed on it or not (step ST04).

If it has an operating button that has already been displayed (YES atstep ST04), the display controller 7 decides whether the display updateof the operating button is stopped or not (step ST05). Then, unless thedisplay update is stopped (NO at step ST05), the display controller 7erases the operating button that has already been displayed, and outputsto the display unit 8 an instruction to display the operating buttongenerated by the operating button generating unit 6 at step ST03 (stepST06).

On the other hand, when the display update is stopped (YES at stepST05), the display controller 7 returns the processing to step ST01without displaying the operating button generated.

In addition, when no operating button is displayed at step ST04 (NO atstep ST04), the display controller 7 outputs to the display unit 8 aninstruction to display the operating button generated by the operatingbutton generating unit 6 at step ST03 (step ST07).

Next, the case in which the operating button display area 60 of thedisplay unit 8 can display a plurality of operating buttons will bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of generating anddisplaying an operating button when the operating button display area 60can display a plurality of (two in FIG. 4) operating buttons as shown inFIG. 4, for example.

As for the processing of steps ST11-ST13, since it is the same as thatof steps ST01-ST03 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, its descriptionwill be omitted.

After generating the operating button at step ST13, the displaycontroller 7 decides the number of the operating buttons that havealready been displayed in the operating button display area 60 on thedisplay unit 8 (step ST14).

Then, when the prescribed number of operating buttons (the maximumnumber of operating buttons the operating button display area 60 candisplay) have already been displayed (YES at step ST15 such as in thecase of FIG. 4(c)), the display controller 7 decides whether the displayupdate of the operating button is stopped or not (step ST16).

Unless the display update is stopped (NO at step ST16), the displaycontroller 7 erases the first operating button (operating button 61 inthe case of FIG. 4(c)) among the operating buttons displayed in theoperating button display area 60, shifts the place of the remainingoperating button (operating button 62 in the case of FIG. 4(c)) by oneplace (FIG. 4(d)), and outputs to the display unit 8 an instruction todisplay the operating button generated by the operating buttongenerating unit 6 (operating button 63 in the case of FIG. 4(d)) at stepST13 (step ST17).

On the other hand, when the display update is stopped (YES at stepST16), the display controller 7 returns to the processing at step ST11without displaying the operating button generated.

In addition, if the number of the operating buttons displayed is lessthan the prescribed number (the maximum number of buttons the operatingbutton display area 60 is able to display) at step ST15 (NO at stepST15, such as in the case of FIG. 4(b)), the display controller 7outputs the instruction to display the operating button generated by theoperating button generating unit 6 (operating button 62 of FIG. 4(c)) tothe display unit 8 (step ST18) in spite of the instruction signal forstopping the update of the display contents of the operating button bythe operating button display update stop/restart unit 9.

Incidentally, in the flowchart of FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the decision at stepST04 or at step ST14-ST15 can be omitted. More specifically, in spite ofthe presence or absence or the number of the operating buttonsdisplayed, the display controller 7 can return to the processing at stepST01 or at step ST11 when the display update is stopped.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of erasing the operatingbutton that has already been displayed, even if the operating button isnot generated.

First, concerning the operating buttons displayed in the operatingbutton display area 60 on the display unit 8, the display controller 7decides whether there is an operating button that has been displayed forthe prescribed time period from the display start or not (step ST21).Unless there is an operating button that has been displayed for theprescribed time period after the display (NO at step ST21), the displaycontroller 7 returns to the processing at step ST21.

On the other hand, if there is an operating button that has beendisplayed for the prescribed time period (YES at step ST21), the displaycontroller 7 decides whether the display update of the operating buttonis stopped or not (step ST22). If the display update is stopped (YES atstep ST22), the display controller 7 returns to the processing at stepST21. Unless the display update is stopped (NO at step ST22), thedisplay controller 7 outputs the instruction to erase from the displayunit 8 the operating button that has been displayed for the prescribedtime period after the display start (step ST23), and returns to theprocessing at step ST21.

In addition, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing which causesthe operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 to output aninstruction for the display update stop/restart of the operating button.

First, the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 acquiresvarious pieces of information from the line-of-sight detector 12, theposture detector 13, and the instruction input unit 10 (step ST31). Theterm “various pieces of information” refers concretely to one of theline of sight information from the line-of-sight detector 12, theposture information from the posture detector 13, the operationinformation from the instruction input unit 10, the approach/contactinformation of an object to the touch screen, and the time period duringwhich the display update is stopped.

Then, if the information it acquires satisfies the prescribed conditions(conditions for stopping the display update) described before (YES atstep ST32), it outputs an instruction to stop the display update to thedisplay controller 7 (step ST33).

On the other hand, when the prescribed conditions (conditions forstopping the display update) are not satisfied (NO at step ST32), itoutputs an instruction to restart the display update (step ST34).

Next, the operation will be described using an instance.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operating button display area60 is able to display only one operating button, and if a user A utters“I want to go to a convenience store” in a state without displaying anyoperating button (the state of FIG. 3(a)), the voice recognition unit 5executes the recognition processing and outputs “convenience store” asthe recognition result (step ST01-ST02 of FIG. 5).

Then, the operating button generating unit 6 generates the operatingbutton 61 “convenience store” with the function corresponding to therecognition result “convenience store”, that is, with the function ofretrieving facilities belonging to the facility genre “conveniencestore” (step ST03).

Here, since no operating button is displayed in the operating buttondisplay area 60 on the display unit 8 (NO at step ST04), the displaycontroller 7 outputs the instruction to display the operating button 61to the display unit 8 (step ST07). As a result, the operating button 61is displayed as shown in FIG. 3(b).

After that, if a user B utters “I must drop in at a bank”, the operatingbutton generating unit 6 generates an operating button 62 “bank” withthe function corresponding to the recognition result “bank”, that is,with the function of retrieving facilities belonging to the facilitygenre “bank” (steps ST01-ST03).

At this time, the operating button 61 “convenience store” has alreadybeen displayed in the operating button display area 60 on the displayunit 8 (YES at step ST04). Thus, suppose that the user A is about topush the operating button 61 “convenience store”, and his or her fingeris approaching the display unit 8, for example. Then, the operatingbutton display update stop/restart unit 9 outputs the instruction tostop the display update to the display controller 7, thereby stoppingthe display update.

As a result, the display controller 7 decides that the display update ofthe operating button is stopped (YES at step ST05), and the operatingbutton 62 “bank” is not displayed on the display unit 8.

On the other hand, unless the user A is about to push the operatingbutton 61 “convenience store” such as the finger of the user A does notapproach the display unit 8, the operating button display updatestop/restart unit 9 does not output the instruction for stopping thedisplay update to the display controller 7.

As a result, the display controller 7 does not decide that the displayupdate of the operating button is stopped (NO at step ST05). Thus, thedisplay controller 7 outputs to the display unit 8 the instruction toerase the operating button 61 “convenience store” and to display theoperating button 62 “bank” (see step ST06, and FIG. 3(c)).

Next, the operation will be described in the case where the operatingbutton display area 60 can display a plurality of operating buttons, twooperating buttons as shown in FIG. 4, for example. More specifically,the maximum number (prescribed number) of the operating buttons theoperating button display area 60 can display is two.

Then, an example as shown in FIG. 4(b) will be described which displaysonly the operating button 61 “convenience store”. In this state, if theuser B utters “I must drop in at a bank”, the operating button 62 “bank”is generated (steps ST11-ST13 of FIG. 6).

At this time, if the user A is about to push the operating button 61“convenience store”, and if his or her finger is approaching the displayunit 8, the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 outputsan instruction to stop the display update to the display controller 7.

However, since the number of the operating buttons displayed on thedisplay unit 8 is one (step ST14 and NO at step ST15), the operatingbutton display update stop/restart unit 9 outputs an instruction signalto display the operating button 62 “bank” regardless of whether thedisplay update is stopped or not (step ST18).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4(c), the operating button 62 “bank” isdisplayed.

Next, if the user B is about to push the operating button 62 “bank” inthis state, for example, and if his or her finger is approaching thedisplay unit 8, the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9outputs an instruction to stop the display update to the displaycontroller 7.

At this time, if the user A utters “Is there any parking lot nearby?”,an operating button 63 “parking lot” is generated (step ST11-ST13).

However, as shown in FIG. 4(c), since the two (the maximum number(prescribed number) of) operating buttons are displayed, and the displayupdate is stopped (YES at step ST15 and YES at step ST16), the displaycontroller 7 does not output the instruction signal to display theoperating button 63 “parking lot” (display of FIG. 4(c) is continued).

On the other hand, unless the finger of the user is approaching thedisplay unit 8 in the state shown in FIG. 4(c), the operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit 9 outputs an instruction to restart thedisplay update to the display controller 7. Thus, the decision whetherthe display update is stopped or not (step ST16) is NO in this case.

At this time, if the user A utters “Is there any parking lot nearby?”,the processing up to generating the operating button 63 “parking lot” isthe same as that described before (steps ST11-ST13).

In this case, however, since the two (maximum number (prescribed number)of) operating buttons are displayed, and the display update is notstopped (YES at step ST15 and NO at step ST16), the display controller 7erases the first operating button 61 among the operating buttons 61 and62 displayed, shifts the remaining operating button 62, and outputs aninstruction to display the operating button 63 generated at step ST13(step ST17).

As a result, the operating button 63 “parking lot” is displayed as shownin FIG. 4(d).

This enables preventing the problem of the conventional example in thatat the moment when the user is about to push the operating button 61“convenience store” to retrieve a convenience store in FIG. 4(c), forexample, the operating button 61 “convenience store” can be changed tothe operating button 62 “bank” owing to an utterance of another user,thereby causing the user to push the unintended operating button 62,that is, to retrieve the undesired “bank”.

As described above, according to the present embodiment 1, it isconfigured in such a manner that when it decides from the line of sightof the user or the posture or the prescribed operation that the user isabout to select (push) an operating button, it stops the display updateof the operating button, and halts displaying the operating buttongenerated from the newly recognized voice while the display update isstopped. Accordingly, at the timing when the user is about to select thedesired operating button, it can prevent the operating button fromshifting its position, from changing to another operating button or frombeing deleted. As a result, it can prevent the user from selecting anundesired operating button, thereby being able to prevent a malfunctionand to improve the convenience of a user.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a voice recognitionsystem of an embodiment 2 in accordance with the present invention.Incidentally, the same components as those described in the embodiment 1are designated by the same reference numerals, and their duplicatedescription will be omitted. As compared with the embodiment 1, theembodiment 2 differs in that it comprises a display update stopexpression storage 14 and a display update restart expression storage15, and that the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9carries out stop/restart of the display update by the voice recognitionof the voice recognition unit 5.

As compared with that of the embodiment 1, the voice recognition unit 5further recognizes a word meaning a stop/restart of the display updateof the operating button such as “stop”, “update stop”, “restart”, and“update restart”, and outputs the recognition result.

The display update stop expression storage 14 stores words meaning thestop of the display update of the operating button such as “stop” and“update stop”.

The display update restart expression storage 15 stores words meaningthe restart of the display update of the operating button such as“restart” and “update restart”.

The operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 refers to thedisplay update stop expression storage 14 and the display update restartexpression storage 15, and decides whether the recognition result outputby the voice recognition unit 5 represents a display update stop storedin the display update stop expression storage 14 or not. Then, when itdecides that the recognition result output by the voice recognition unit5 is contained in the display update stop expression storage 14, itoutputs to the display controller 7 an instruction signal to stop thedisplay update; and when it decides that the recognition resultrepresents a restart of the display update stored in the display updaterestart expression storage 15, it outputs to the display controller 7 aninstruction signal to restart the display update of the operatingbutton.

Next, the processing of the voice recognition system of the embodiment 2will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing in which the operatingbutton display update stop/restart unit 9 outputs an instruction tostop/restart the display update of the operating button by the voicerecognition.

First, the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 acquiresthe recognition result output from the voice recognition unit 5 (stepST41).

Next, the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 decideswhether the recognition result is contained in the display update stopexpression storage 14 or not (step ST42). If the recognition result iscontained (YES at step ST42), it outputs the instruction to stop thedisplay update to the display controller 7 (step ST43).

On the other hand, if the recognition result it acquires at step ST41 isnot contained in the display update stop expression storage 14 (NO atstep ST42), it decides whether the recognition result is contained inthe display update restart expression storage 15 or not (step ST44). Ifthe recognition result is contained (YES at step ST44), it outputs aninstruction to restart the display update to the display controller 7(step ST46).

In addition, if the recognition result it acquires at step ST41 is notcontained in the display update restart expression storage 15 (NO atstep ST44), it terminates the processing.

Thus, the present embodiment 2 differs from the embodiment 1 in that theoperating button display update stop/restart unit 9 employs, as thecondition for executing the instruction to stop/restart the displayupdate of the operating button, the utterance of the user instead of theline of sight of the user, the posture, or the operation input. As forthe other operation processing and screen transitions, since they arethe same as those of the embodiment 1, their drawings and descriptionwill be omitted.

As described above, according to the present embodiment 2, it isconfigured in such a manner that when the user makes an utterance tostop the display update of the operating button, it stops the displayupdate of the operating button, and does not display the buttongenerated by the newly recognized voice while the display update isstopped, thereby being able to prevent the positional shift of theoperating button at the timing when the user is about to select thedesired operating button, and to prevent the change to another operatingbutton or the deletion of the operating button. Accordingly, the presentembodiment 2 can prevent the user from selecting an undesired operatingbutton, and can prevent a malfunction from occurring, and can improvethe convenience of the user.

Incidentally, in the foregoing embodiments 1 and 2, a configuration isalso possible in which when the display controller 7 receives theinstruction signal to stop the display update from the operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit 9, the display controller 7 outputs tothe display unit 8 an instruction to alter the display mode of theoperating button that has already been displayed, and when it receivesthe instruction signal to restart the display update from the operatingbutton display update stop/restart unit 9, it outputs an instruction torestore the operating button altered. Here, the term “display mode”refers to the size, color, and font of characters on the operatingbutton, for example.

More specifically, when the display controller 7 receives theinstruction signal to stop the display update from the operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit 9, the display controller 7 can outputto the display unit 8 the instruction to alter at least one of the size,color and font of the characters on the operating button that hasalready been displayed, and when it receives the instruction signal torestart the display update from the operating button display updatestop/restart unit 9, it can output the instruction to restore theoperating button altered.

This enables the user to visually decide whether the display update ofthe operating button is stopped or not. In addition, highlighting theoperating button can facilitate the selection.

In addition, in the foregoing embodiments 1 and 2, a configuration isalso possible which further comprises an operating button displayhistory storage (not shown) for storing a display history of theoperating buttons displayed on the display unit 8. In this case, everytime the operating button is erased from the display unit 8 owing to thedisplay update, the display controller 7 stores the information aboutthe operating button in the operating button display history storage.

Then, when the user carries out a scrolling operation of the operatingbutton display area while the display update is stopped, the displaycontroller 7 controls in such a manner as to display the operatingbuttons displayed in the past in the order of being erased in accordancewith the information stored in the operating button display historystorage.

More specifically, when the user utters “I want to go to a conveniencestore” and “I must drop in at a bank” in the state of FIG. 4(a), forexample, the operating buttons 61 and 62 corresponding to the“convenience store” and “bank” are displayed as shown in FIG. 4(c).Here, assume that the maximum number of the operating buttons that canbe displayed is “2”, and when the user utters “Is there any parking lotnearby?”, the operating button 61 “convenience store”, which is thefirst operating button displayed earliest, is erased, and the operatingbutton 63 “parking lot” is displayed (FIG. 4(d)).

At this time, the display controller 7 stores the information about theerased operating button 61 “convenience store” in the operating buttondisplay history storage. Then, if the user performs the scrollingoperation in the operating button display area while the display updateis stopped, the display controller 7 shifts the operating buttons duringdisplay in response to the signal from the touch sensor, and outputs tothe display unit 8 the instruction to display the operating button 61“convenience store” displayed in the past in accordance with theinformation stored in the operating button display history storage.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen in which theoperating button erased from the operating button display area 60 isdisplayed by scrolling.

It is assumed here that the maximum number of the operating buttons thatthe operating button display area 60 can display is “3”. FIG. 11(a)shows a state in which the operating button 64 “parking lot” isdisplayed and the first operating button 61 “convenience store” iserased, after the operating button 61 “convenience store”, the operatingbutton 62 “bank”, and the operating button 63 “supermarket” aredisplayed.

At this time, the display controller 7 stores the information about theerased operating button 61 “convenience store” in the operating buttondisplay history storage. Then, when the user scrolls up as indicated bythe up arrow in FIG. 11(a) while the display update is stopped, thedisplay controller 7 shifts the operating buttons 62-64 during displayupward, and outputs to the display unit 8 the instruction to display theoperating button 61 “convenience store” stored in the operating buttondisplay history storage. As a result, the operating buttons are scrolledand displayed as shown in FIG. 11(b).

Incidentally, scrolling of the operating buttons can be performed by anyone of the following operations: a touch operation that sweeps over theintegrated display type touch screen (display unit 8); and operationswith a steering switch, with a prescribed button of a remote control andwith a device for manual operation.

In addition, when receiving the instruction signal to stop the displayupdate, the display controller 7 can output the instruction to display alist of the operating buttons stored as the display history as shown inFIG. 12 in addition to the operating buttons displayed at the time. Morespecifically, when the display update is stopped after the state asshown in FIG. 11(a), the display controller 7 also displays theoperating button 61 “convenience store” stored in the operating buttondisplay history storage as shown in FIG. 12 without performingscrolling. In this case, regardless of the operating button display area60, all the operating buttons are displayed which are during display orstored.

Furthermore, when the display controller 7 stores information about anoperating button in the operating button display history storage, it canskip storing the operating button if the same information has alreadybeen stored (merge into the pervious information).

For example, when the operating button display history storage storesthe information about the operating buttons in the order of “conveniencestore” and “bank”, and information about the operating button“convenience store” is further acquired, since it has already beenstored in the storage, the information is not stored anymore.

Thus, the display controller 7 can prevent multiple display of the sameoperating button.

In addition, the foregoing embodiments 1 and 2 can further comprise anoperating button generating history storage (not shown) that storesinformation about the operating button generated by the operating buttongenerating unit 6. In this case, according to the recognition resultoutput from the voice recognition unit 5, the display controller 7stores in the operating button generating history storage theinformation about the operating button which is generated by theoperating button generating unit 6 but not displayed on the display unit8 because the display update is stopped.

Then, receiving the instruction signal to restart the display update,the display controller 7 outputs an instruction to display, instead ofthe operating buttons displayed on the display unit 8, the operatingbuttons based on the information stored in the operating buttongenerating history storage on the display unit 8.

At this time, regardless of the operating button display area 60, thedisplay controller 7 can output an instruction to display the maximumnumber of operating buttons displayable on the display unit 8, or canoutput an instruction to display a prescribed number of buttons notgreater than the maximum number.

To be concrete, for example, while the operating buttons are displayedas shown in FIG. 4(c) and the display update is stopped, and anutterance “I must drop in at a supermarket” is given, the operatingbutton generating unit 6 generates an operating button “supermarket”.Here, since the display update is stopped, the display controller 7 doesnot output the instruction to display the operating button “supermarket”on the display unit 8, but stores the information about the operatingbutton in the operating button generating history storage.

Likewise, if an utterance “Is there any parking lot nearby?” is given,the display controller 7 stores the information about the operatingbutton “parking lot” in the operating button generating history storage.After that, receiving the instruction signal to restart the displayupdate, the display controller 7 outputs an instruction to display theoperating button “supermarket” and the operating button “parking lot” onthe display unit 8 in accordance with the information stored in theoperating button generating history storage instead of the operatingbutton “bank” and the operating button “convenience store” on thedisplay unit 8.

In addition, although the foregoing embodiments 1 and 2 are described onthe assumption that the user can select an operating button by pushingit while the display update is stopped, a configuration is also possiblewhich enables the user to select an operating button by uttering thename of the operating button while the display update is stopped.

In addition, in the foregoing embodiments 1 and 2, a configuration isalso possible which reads out the names of the operating buttonsdisplayed on the display unit 8 while the display update is stopped, andenables the user to determine a desired operating button during itsreading, thereby selecting it. In this case, while reading out theoperating button name or within a prescribed time period after read out,the user can determine it manually through an instruction input unitsuch as a steering switch, or can execute the function corresponding tothe operating button read out when an uttered voice such as “determine”or “select” is recognized.

In this case, the system comprises a speech synthesis unit (not shown)that generates a speech from a character string, and a speech controller(not shown) that outputs an instruction signal to output the speechgenerated by speech synthesis unit to a voice output unit like aspeaker. Then, the speech controller, receiving the display update stopsignal from the operating button display update stop/restart unit 9,acquires the name of the operating button displayed on the display unit8 from the display controller 7, and outputs to the speech synthesisunit an instruction to synthesize the speech corresponding to the name.Receiving the instruction, the speech synthesis unit synthesizes thespeech. Then, the speech controller outputs to the voice output unit aninstruction to output the voice data generated by the speech synthesisunit.

Incidentally, as for the operation at the time when the user determinesthe operating button manually or by a voice while it is read out orwithin the prescribed time period after the reading out, since it canutilize a publicly known technique, the description thereof will beomitted.

Embodiment 3

Although the foregoing embodiments 1 and 2 are described by way ofexample that applies the voice recognition system in accordance with thepresent invention to the navigation system mounted on the moving bodysuch as a vehicle, it is applicable not only to an onboard navigationsystem, but also to a navigation system for a moving body including aperson, vehicle, railway vehicle, ship and aircraft and to a server ofthe voice recognition system or a server of the navigation system. Inaddition, it is applicable to any type of applications such asapplications of a voice recognition system installed in a mobile dataterminal like a smartphone, tablet PC and mobile phone, and applicationsof a navigation system.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an outline of a navigation system of anembodiment 3 in accordance with the present invention. The navigationsystem can take the following various configurations: a configuration inwhich an onboard apparatus 100 executes a voice recognition processingand navigation processing in cooperation with at least one of a mobiledata terminal 101 like a smartphone and a server 102; a configuration inwhich at least one of the mobile data terminal 101 like a smartphone andthe server 102 executes the voice recognition processing and navigationprocessing to cause the onboard apparatus 100 to display a recognitionresult and map information; and the like. A configuration of thenavigation system will be described below.

Although the embodiments 1 are 2 described on the assumption that theonboard apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 13 has all the functions of a voicerecognition system in accordance with the present invention, thenavigation system of the present embodiment 3 will be described usingthe following examples:

an example in which the server 102 executes the voice recognitionprocessing and the onboard apparatus 100 displays the recognition resultto provide it to a user; and an example in which the mobile dataterminal 101 executes the voice recognition processing in cooperationwith the server 102, and the onboard apparatus 100 displays therecognition result to provide it to a user.

First, the case will be described where the server 102 executes thevoice recognition processing, and the onboard apparatus 100 displays therecognition result, that is, where the onboard apparatus 100 functionsas a display device in cooperation with the server 102 with the voicerecognition function.

In the configuration, it is conceivable that the onboard apparatus 100carries out communication with the server 102 directly, or with theserver 102 via the mobile data terminal 101. The server 102 functions asthe voice recognition system described in the foregoing embodiments 1and 2. In addition, the onboard apparatus 100 functions as a displaydevice that comprises at least the display unit 8 for providing a userwith the recognition result given by the server 102.

At this time, it is conceivable that (1) the server 102 has only thevoice recognition function, and the onboard apparatus 100 has all theother functions, that is, the onboard apparatus 100 functions as therecognition result display apparatus that acquires the recognitionresult and causes the display unit to display it; and that (2) theonboard apparatus 100 has only a voice acquiring function, acommunication function and a display function, and the server 102 hasall the other functions, that is, the onboard apparatus 100 functionsonly as a display device that displays the recognition result acquired.

First, the case (1) will be described where the server 102 has only thevoice recognition function and the onboard apparatus 100 has all theother components, that is, where the onboard apparatus 100 functions asa recognition result display apparatus that acquires the recognitionresult and causes the display unit to display it.

In this case, the server 102 is a voice recognition server comprisingthe voice recognition dictionary 4 and the voice recognition unit 5, andthe onboard apparatus 100 serving as the recognition result displayapparatus comprises the controller 1, voice acquiring unit 3, operatingbutton generating unit 6, display controller 7, display unit 8,operating button display update stop/restart unit 9 and communicationfunction (a voice data transmitter and a recognition result acquiringunit).

Then, the voice data transmitter (not shown) in the communicationfunction transmits the voice data acquired by the voice acquiring unit 3to the server 102, and the recognition result acquiring unit (not shown)acquires the result of the voice recognition by the server 102 from theserver 102. In addition, the operating button generating unit 6generates the operating button with a function corresponding to therecognition result the recognition result acquiring unit acquires fromthe server 102. As for the other functions, since they are the same asthose of the voice recognition system of the embodiment 1 or 2, theirdescription will be omitted.

Next, the case (2) will be described where the onboard apparatus 100 hasonly the voice acquiring function, communication function and displayfunction, and the server 102 has all the other components, that is,where the onboard apparatus 100 functions only as a display device fordisplaying the recognition result acquired.

In this case, the onboard apparatus 100 has only the voice acquiringfunction, communication function and display function basically, andreceives the voice recognition result by the server 102 and provides itto the user.

More specifically, the server 102 works as a voice recognition systemcomprising all the components other than the display unit 8, and theserver 102 which operates as the voice recognition system recognizes thevoice uttered by the user, and causes the onboard apparatus 100 workingas a display device to display the recognition result.

The configuration can also offer the same advantages as the embodiment 1or 2.

In addition, a configuration will be described in which the mobile dataterminal 101 carries out the voice recognition processing in cooperationwith the server 102, and the onboard apparatus 100 provides therecognition result to the user.

In the configuration, an example is conceivable in which the onboardapparatus 100 communicates with the server 102 via the mobile dataterminal 101, and an application of the mobile data terminal 101 carriesout the voice recognition processing in cooperation with the server 102.In addition, the onboard apparatus 100 functions as a display devicecomprising at leas the display unit 8 for providing the user with therecognition result by the mobile data terminal 101 and the server 102.

In this case, the onboard apparatus 100 basically comprises only thevoice acquiring function, communication function and display function,receives the voice recognition result by the cooperation of the mobiledata terminal 101 and the server 102, and provides the user with theresult.

More specifically, an application of the mobile data terminal 101 causesthe onboard apparatus 100 serving as the display device to display therecognition result of the voice uttered by the user.

Such the configuration can offer the same advantages of the embodiment 1or 2.

Incidentally, it is to be understood that a free combination of theindividual embodiments, variations of any components of the individualembodiments or removal of any components of the individual embodimentsis possible within the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A voice recognition system in accordance with the present invention isapplicable not only to an onboard navigation system, but also to anavigation system for a moving body including a person, vehicle, railwayvehicle, ship or aircraft; to a portable navigation system and aportable information processing apparatus; and to an application of anavigation system to be installed in a server for an onboard informationdelivery system, and for a mobile data terminal such as a smartphone,tablet PC, and mobile phone.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   -   1 controller; 2 microphone; 3 voice acquiring unit; 4 voice        recognition dictionary; 5 voice recognition unit; 6 operating        button generating unit; 7 display controller; 8 display unit; 9        operating button display update stop/restart unit; 10        instruction input unit; 11 camera; 12 line-of-sight detector; 13        posture detector; 14 display update stop expression storage; 15        display update restart expression storage; 16 own vehicle mark;        60 operating button display area; 61, 62, 63, 64 operating        button; 100 onboard apparatus; 101 mobile data terminal; 102        server.

What is claimed is:
 1. A voice recognition system that recognizes avoice uttered by a user and displays a recognition result, the voicerecognition system comprising: a voice acquirer that detects andacquires the voice uttered by the user; a voice recognition unit thatrecognizes voice data acquired by the voice acquirer by referring to avoice recognition dictionary and outputs a recognition resultcontinuously while the voice recognition system is in operation; anoperating button generator that generates an operating button with afunction corresponding to the recognition result output by the voicerecognition unit; a display that displays the operating button generatedby the operating button generator; a display controller that controlsdisplay content of the operating button on the display; and an operatingbutton display update stop/restart unit that outputs an instructionsignal that instructs the display controller to stop and restart anupdate of the display content of the operating button depending onwhether the user is about to touch the operating button displayed on thedisplay or not, wherein the operating button display update stop/restartunit outputs an instruction signal for stopping the update of thedisplay content of the operating button when deciding that the user isabout to touch the operating button displayed on the display; and thedisplay controller instructs the display to stop a display update of theoperating button displayed on the display when receiving the instructionsignal for stopping the update of the display content of the operatingbutton from the operating button display update stop/restart unit, anoperating button display history storage that stores a display historyof the operating button displayed on the display, wherein the displaycontroller stores, every time the operating button is erased from thedisplay owing to the display update of the operating button, informationabout the erased operating button in the operating button displayhistory storage, and instructs the display to display the operatingbutton stored in the operating button display history storage whenscrolling of the operating button is carried out during a stop of thedisplay update of the operating button.
 2. The voice recognition systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: an instruction inputter thataccepts an instruction by various operations of the user, wherein theoperating button display update stop/restart unit outputs theinstruction signal for stopping the update of the display content of theoperating button by making a decision that the user is about to push theoperating button in a case where the instruction inputter accepts aprescribed operation.
 3. The voice recognition system according to claim2, wherein the instruction inputter comprises a proximity sensor thatdetects approach of an object, wherein the case where the instructioninputter accepts the prescribed operation refers to a case where theinstruction inputter calculates the distance between the proximitysensor and the object from a signal from the proximity sensor, and thedistance calculated is not greater than a prescribed value.
 4. The voicerecognition system according to claim 1, further comprising: aline-of-sight detector that detects a line of sight of the user, whereinthe operating button display update stop/restart unit decides that theuser is about to touch the operating button when the line-of-sightdetector detects the line of sight of the user toward the display, andoutputs the instruction signal for stopping the update of the displaycontent of the operating button.
 5. The voice recognition systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a posture detector thatdetects a posture of the user, wherein the operating button displayupdate stop/restart unit decides, when the posture detector detects aprescribed posture, that the user is about to push the operating button,and outputs the instruction signal for stopping the update of thedisplay content of the operating button.
 6. The voice recognition systemaccording to claim 1, wherein when the number of operating buttonsdisplayed on the display is less than a prescribed number, the operatingbutton display update stop/restart unit, even deciding that the user isabout to touch the operating button, does not instruct to stop theupdate of the display content of the operating button.
 7. The voicerecognition system according to claim 1, further comprising: a displayupdate stop expression storage that stores a word meaning a displayupdate stop of the operating button, wherein the operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit, when deciding that the recognitionresult output from the voice recognition unit is contained in thedisplay update stop expression storage, outputs the instruction signalfor stopping the update of the display content of the operating button.8. The voice recognition system according to claim 1, wherein theoperating button display update stop/restart unit, when not decidingthat the user is about to touch the operating button, outputs aninstruction signal that instructs to restart the update of the displaycontent of the operating button; and the display controller instructsthe display to restart the display update of the operating buttondisplayed on the display when the update of the operating button on thedisplay is stopped and when receiving the instruction signal of anupdate restart of the display contents of the operating button from theoperating button display update stop/restart unit.
 9. The voicerecognition system according to claim 1, wherein the operating buttondisplay update stop/restart unit restarts the update of the displaycontent of the operating button when a prescribed time period haselapsed without any touch on the operating button from output of theinstruction signal for stopping the update of the display content of theoperating button.
 10. The voice recognition system according to claim 9,wherein the voice recognition system is mounted in a moving body; andthe operating button display update stop/restart unit alters theprescribed time period in accordance of a running state of the movingbody.
 11. The voice recognition system according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay controller alters a display mode of the operating buttondisplayed on the display when receiving the instruction signal forstopping the update of the display content of the operating button fromthe operating button display update stop/restart unit.
 12. The voicerecognition system according to claim 11, wherein the display moderefers to at least one of a size, a color and a font of characters ofthe operating button.
 13. The voice recognition system according toclaim 1, further comprising: an operating button display history storagethat stores a display history of the operating button displayed on thedisplay, wherein the display controller stores, every time the operatingbutton is erased from the display owing to the display update of theoperating button, information about the erased operating button in theoperating button display history storage, and instructs the display todisplay a list of operating buttons stored in the operating buttondisplay history storage during a stop of the display update of theoperating button.
 14. The voice recognition system according to claim 1,further comprising: an operating button generating history storage thatstores information about the operating button generated by the operatingbutton generator, wherein the display controller instructs the operatingbutton generating history storage to store the information about theoperating button which is generated by the operating button generator,but is not displayed on the display because the display update of theoperating button is stopped, and instructs the display to display theoperating button based on the information stored in the operating buttongenerating history storage instead of the operating button which isdisplayed on the display when receiving an instruction signal to restartthe display update of the operating button.
 15. A recognition resultdisplay apparatus that displays a recognition result of a voice utteredby a user, the recognition result display apparatus comprising: a voiceacquirer that detects and acquires the voice uttered by the user; arecognition result acquirer that transmits a voice data acquired by thevoice acquirer to a voice recognition server continuously while therecognition result display apparatus is in operation, and that acquiresa recognition result of the voice recognition by the server; anoperating button generator that generates an operating button with afunction corresponding to the recognition result acquired by therecognition result acquirer; a display that displays the operatingbutton generated by the operating button generator; a display controllerthat controls display content of the operating button on the display;and an operating button display update stop/restart unit that outputs tothe display controller an instruction signal that instructs to stop andrestart an update of display content of the operating button dependingon whether the user is about to touch the operating button displayed onthe display or not, wherein the operating button display updatestop/restart unit outputs an instruction signal for stopping the updateof the display content of the operating button when deciding that theuser is about to touch the operating button displayed on the display;and the display controller instructs the display to stop a displayupdate of operating button displayed on the display when receiving theinstruction signal for stopping the update of the display content of theoperating button from the operating button display update stop/restartunit, an operating button display history storage that stores a displayhistory of the operating button displayed on the display, wherein thedisplay controller stores, every time the operating button is erasedfrom the display owing to the display update of the operating button,information about the erased operating button in the operating buttondisplay history storage, and instructs the display to display theoperating button stored in the operating button display history storagewhen scrolling of the operating button is carried out during a stop ofthe display update of the operating button.
 16. A voice recognitionsystem that recognizes a voice uttered by a user and causes a displaydevice to display a recognition result, the voice recognition systemcomprising: a voice recognition unit that recognizes the voice utteredby the user by referring to a voice recognition dictionary and outputs arecognition result continuously while the voice recognition system is inoperation; an operating button generator that generates an operatingbutton with a function corresponding to the recognition result output bythe voice recognition unit; a display controller that controls displaycontent when displaying the operating button generated by the operatingbutton generator on the display device; and an operating button displayupdate stop/restart unit that outputs an instruction signal thatinstructs the display controller to stop and restart an update of thedisplay content of the operating button depending on whether the user isabout to touch the operating button displayed on the display device ornot, wherein the operating button display update stop/restart unitoutputs an instruction signal for stopping the update of the displaycontent of the operating button when deciding that the user is about totouch the operating button; and the display controller instructs thedisplay device to stop a display update of the operating buttondisplayed on the display device when receiving the instruction signalfor stopping the update of the display content of the operating buttonfrom the operating button display update stop/restart unit, an operatingbutton display history storage that stores a display history of theoperating button displayed on the display, wherein the displaycontroller stores, every time the operating button is erased from thedisplay owing to the display update of the operating button, informationabout the erased operating button in the operating button displayhistory storage, and instructs the display to display the operatingbutton stored in the operating button display history storage whenscrolling of the operating button is carried out during a stop of thedisplay update of the operating button.